Chapter 713: The Scent of Malice

Third Person’s POV

He still had a long way to go, and neither the saber nor his new spell could solve all his problems overnight.

Nevertheless, they represented possibilities he hadn’t possessed before, and as long as he continued to grow stronger, he would eventually gain the power to challenge those who sought to manipulate him.

Meanwhile, the silent exchange that took place between Ethan, Arlene, and the two women beside him only served to infuriate Reed and Pebba further.

Unable to openly express their displeasure in front of the princess, the two resorted to soul transmission, their conversation taking place entirely within their minds.

"What does that lowly plebeian think he is doing? How dare he flirt with the princess?"

Reed spoke through gritted teeth, his voice filled with barely suppressed anger.

Pebba readily agreed with him.

In their eyes, Ethan was nothing more than a fighter raised by the prince to act against their princess.

No matter how strong or talented he appeared to be, he was still an outsider without the noble status they considered essential to earning their respect, and a person belonging to an enemy faction.

They had never trusted him, unlike Princess Arlene, who seemed far too willing to accept this newcomer into their group.

As far as they were concerned, her willingness to place her faith in the prince’s pawn was nothing short of naive.

Had Reed and Pebba been the only ones accompanying Arlene, they would never have allowed Ethan to join them so easily.

Unfortunately, the ambiguous attitude of the strongest member of their team, Edhan, which seemed to favor the princess’s decision, had left them with little choice but to swallow their anger.

After all, openly opposing Arlene’s decision in front of Edhan could create complications they would rather avoid.

"Ahh, I hate that bastard!

First, he tries to play all flirty-flirty with the princess, and now there’s that useless red-haired bitch sitting behind him.

Did you see the way she acted?

She looked at the princess as if they were love rivals fighting over a man!"

Pebba’s resentful voice hissed through the soul transmission, carrying a degree of hatred that made Reed shudder inwardly.

He knew Pebba well enough to recognize that her hostility toward Aurelia was not simply a result of wounded pride or irritation over the princess’s behavior.

Having known each other since childhood, owing to their families’ longstanding association with the Empress’s camp, Reed had learned that Pebba’s outwardly chatty and seemingly carefree personality was largely a facade she used to deceive others.

Beneath that talkative exterior lurked a thoroughly vicious individual.

Pebba took particular pleasure in humiliating, torturing, and killing beautiful young women, whom she habitually referred to as ’bitches’.

The more helpless her victims were, the more she seemed to enjoy making them suffer, and Reed had long since learned not to mistake her cheerful demeanor for kindness.

He had no idea how many beautiful flowers this fat bitch had ruined over the years, nor did he particularly want to know the full extent of her depravity.

However, he was well aware that her family’s influence had allowed her to escape the consequences of her actions time and again.

Despite knowing what kind of person she truly was, Reed had never dared to openly oppose her.

The reason was simple: Pebba was not merely a member of the Empress’s faction with a powerful family backing her.

She was also monstrously strong, possessing combat prowess that surpassed his own and was sufficient to place her among the top five of the Violet Rankings.

That alone made her someone Reed could not afford to antagonize lightly.

Her extraordinary strength also explained her seemingly insatiable appetite and the fact that she had never managed to slim down despite her family’s considerable resources.

The relationship between her constant eating and her unusual strength was something outsiders might have found difficult to understand, but Reed knew there was a reason behind it.

Pebba’s true strength was a closely guarded secret within her family, and they had gone to considerable lengths to conceal the extent of her abilities from the outside world.

More importantly, her family had used its influence to cover up her numerous crimes, ensuring that the ugly truth behind her seemingly harmless appearance never reached those who might have acted against her.

And so, despite the disgust Reed sometimes felt toward her, he continued to tolerate Pebba’s presence as an ally.

After all, in the ruthless political world they inhabited, having a monstrous ally, even one as twisted as Pebba, was often more useful than making an enemy of her.

Unknown to Reed and Pebba, Ethan’s powerful soul perception, combined with the mysterious changes in his soul, allowed him to detect the waves of resentment radiating from the two toward him and his family.

Although neither of them had openly expressed their hostility, he could vaguely sense their displeasure and hate, as though their negative emotions had taken on a tangible form that brushed against his consciousness.

However, what truly surprised him was the sheer intensity of the malice emanating from the fat girl.

Compared to Reed’s resentment, Pebba’s hostility was far more pronounced, carrying a disturbing quality that made it stand out unmistakably within his perception.

Ethan’s expression remained unchanged as he continued sitting beside the bonfire, but inwardly, he was astonished.

’I can actually sense their emotions and the nature of their thoughts?’

[Shocking, isn’t it?

Your soul has also evolved now that it has come into contact with one of the law principles governing the very fabric of this universe.

One of the more obvious benefits is the ability to sense the strong emotions of lower-level beings, especially malice directed toward you.

In the same way, warriors who awaken their Force Intent develop monstrously powerful battle instincts.

And let me tell you something: if you encounter a powerful Rank Three warrior who has awakened his Force Intent, you won’t be able to defeat him in close combat, no matter how good you are at it.

They will always have a counter to your attacks, and it’s not something that can be bridged with skill.]